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VSS Snapshot error

prs246191
Level 5

Hello, I am running BE 2012 and I'm trying to back up a new server. Since the server is offsite it is acting as it's own media server. When I try to back it up I am receiving:

- Snapshot Technology: Initialization failure on: "\\ServerName.DomainName.com\System?State". Snapshot technology used: Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS). V-79-10000-11226 - VSS Snapshot error. The Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) snapshot technology selected returned: "Unexpected provider error". Ensure that all provider services are enabled and can be started. Check the Windows Event Viewer for details.

I tried turning the AFO to software for the provider instead of Automatic. No Dice. The job is also throwing exceptions for every other component to the server in regards to VSS. When I check the event logs I receive 2 errors corresponding to one job:

Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Error calling a routine on a Shadow Copy Provider {b5946137-7b9f-4925-af80-51abd60b20d5}. Routine details EndPrepareSnapshots({4a616c26-02a5-42f0-a4a0-f35e21f6925c}) [hr = 0x8000ffff]. Operation: Executing Asynchronous Operation Context: Current State: DoSnapshotSet

AND One saying the backup job failed... Can anyone give me some insight on how to fix this?

2 ACCEPTED SOLUTIONS

Accepted Solutions

prs246191
Level 5

I think Maurijo has a good point...  Why not try to reregister the vss writers via script...  Obvisously I will back up all of my files before trying and then give it a go...  If it works great, I saved myself a 4 hour round trip car ride and a long day...  If not I am going to have to rebuild it anyway...  I know it seems like a shortcut but honestly this is a very small server that really is only used for roaming profiles at the momment...  Does anyone have a script to reregister the vss writers on a server 2008 r2 x64 box?

View solution in original post

maurijo
Level 6
Partner Accredited

I used the one that is on the microsoft technote.

View solution in original post

30 REPLIES 30

lmosla
Level 6

What state are the Writers in when you run vssadmin list writers on the affected server?  If any are in error or failed a reboot should set them right again.   

pkh
Moderator
Moderator
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You can enable Shadow copy on this server and remove any disk limit

prs246191
Level 5
vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool (C) Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp. Writer name: 'System Writer' Writer Id: {e8132975-6f93-4464-a53e-1050253ae220} Writer Instance Id: {8919cb1d-2f29-4e5e-991a-cfcd0a9e4c1a} State: [7] Failed Last error: No error Writer name: 'SqlServerWriter' Writer Id: {a65faa63-5ea8-4ebc-9dbd-a0c4db26912a} Writer Instance Id: {0dfc3c32-322e-48c1-a687-6f90cd963c83} State: [1] Stable Last error: No error Writer name: 'ASR Writer' Writer Id: {be000cbe-11fe-4426-9c58-531aa6355fc4} Writer Instance Id: {dd1adf37-ef16-409d-a004-a3c97d39b8f4} State: [1] Stable Last error: No error Writer name: 'BITS Writer' Writer Id: {4969d978-be47-48b0-b100-f328f07ac1e0} Writer Instance Id: {6aa035fd-41e2-4a78-8b0e-8ab8c9ad0842} State: [1] Stable Last error: No error Writer name: 'Shadow Copy Optimization Writer' Writer Id: {4dc3bdd4-ab48-4d07-adb0-3bee2926fd7f} Writer Instance Id: {193c369a-4551-4d0b-9f18-80cb7c3b0334} State: [1] Stable Last error: No error Writer name: 'Registry Writer' Writer Id: {afbab4a2-367d-4d15-a586-71dbb18f8485} Writer Instance Id: {054c58a7-86b6-496f-aa3a-cdf09cd81fa5} State: [1] Stable Last error: No error Writer name: 'COM+ REGDB Writer' Writer Id: {542da469-d3e1-473c-9f4f-7847f01fc64f} Writer Instance Id: {da9e1fb7-7208-4a24-abeb-35aac98f57c4} State: [1] Stable Last error: No error Writer name: 'IIS Config Writer' Writer Id: {2a40fd15-dfca-4aa8-a654-1f8c654603f6} Writer Instance Id: {cd569889-1ccb-4b26-8255-bf915014aff6} State: [7] Failed Last error: No error Writer name: 'WMI Writer' Writer Id: {a6ad56c2-b509-4e6c-bb19-49d8f43532f0} Writer Instance Id: {b0185f4b-f126-4583-ad71-4fc709f75779} State: [7] Failed Last error: No error

CraigV
Moderator
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...some of your writers have failed, so a reboot should fix this as per lmosla.

However, if the OS of the server is Server 2003, you can download the latest VSS Rollup Patch and install this which should fix it. Alternatively try a repair of those VSS writers if Server 2003.

Thanks!

prs246191
Level 5
This server is 2008 r2

prs246191
Level 5
pkh, I think i know what you mean by this, but can you outline the steps. Thanks

CraigV
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...then try a server reboot, and try disabling AOFO as well.

Thanks!

pkh
Moderator
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Search the Microsoft site and you would get the steps.

prs246191
Level 5

I will reboot the server tonight and let you know tomorrow.  Thanks for the help!

maurijo
Level 6
Partner Accredited

Also check "vssadmin list providers" command, having more providers can give you problems as well.

prs246191
Level 5

>vssadmin list providers
vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp.

Provider name: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
   Provider type: System
   Provider Id: {b5946137-7b9f-4925-af80-51abd60b20d5}
   Version: 1.0.0.7

 

prs246191
Level 5

Rebooted and ran the job... same problem...  disabled aofo and ran the job same problem...  The same three writers failed

prs246191
Level 5

So here's something interesting if I restart the services that are associated with the VSS writers they are all stable with no errors:

vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp.

Writer name: 'System Writer'
   Writer Id: {e8132975-6f93-4464-a53e-1050253ae220}
   Writer Instance Id: {ca6cc659-27e8-472d-b171-7e641032f512}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'ASR Writer'
   Writer Id: {be000cbe-11fe-4426-9c58-531aa6355fc4}
   Writer Instance Id: {7bc35760-1bce-41a6-851b-b9da1f205479}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'Shadow Copy Optimization Writer'
   Writer Id: {4dc3bdd4-ab48-4d07-adb0-3bee2926fd7f}
   Writer Instance Id: {18341640-ad57-42d2-92df-2c417a01703d}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'BITS Writer'
   Writer Id: {4969d978-be47-48b0-b100-f328f07ac1e0}
   Writer Instance Id: {cf201752-d43f-4bca-ba78-a7e2971eaf07}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'Registry Writer'
   Writer Id: {afbab4a2-367d-4d15-a586-71dbb18f8485}
   Writer Instance Id: {8a70f6b2-2647-4a3f-898b-3e1529e18711}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'IIS Config Writer'
   Writer Id: {2a40fd15-dfca-4aa8-a654-1f8c654603f6}
   Writer Instance Id: {f729e510-6ee6-45d8-a033-45d5e29bf937}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'COM+ REGDB Writer'
   Writer Id: {542da469-d3e1-473c-9f4f-7847f01fc64f}
   Writer Instance Id: {0ce63eae-4119-478f-8831-e8a254afdd7d}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'WMI Writer'
   Writer Id: {a6ad56c2-b509-4e6c-bb19-49d8f43532f0}
   Writer Instance Id: {e2d38397-6f9f-409e-934c-2508df651bf9}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

 

However whenever I try to run a backup job as simple as just the system state...  I get this:

vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp.

Writer name: 'System Writer'
   Writer Id: {e8132975-6f93-4464-a53e-1050253ae220}
   Writer Instance Id: {ca6cc659-27e8-472d-b171-7e641032f512}
   State: [7] Failed
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'ASR Writer'
   Writer Id: {be000cbe-11fe-4426-9c58-531aa6355fc4}
   Writer Instance Id: {83b7e90b-d7ee-4b41-86db-08ec1414c434}
   State: [7] Failed
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'BITS Writer'
   Writer Id: {4969d978-be47-48b0-b100-f328f07ac1e0}
   Writer Instance Id: {cf201752-d43f-4bca-ba78-a7e2971eaf07}
   State: [1] Stable
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'Shadow Copy Optimization Writer'
   Writer Id: {4dc3bdd4-ab48-4d07-adb0-3bee2926fd7f}
   Writer Instance Id: {d8b498d3-ee16-4475-b19b-b92f2dde7000}
   State: [7] Failed
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'Registry Writer'
   Writer Id: {afbab4a2-367d-4d15-a586-71dbb18f8485}
   Writer Instance Id: {305e4550-626a-4b16-8323-6ec8000dc057}
   State: [7] Failed
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'IIS Config Writer'
   Writer Id: {2a40fd15-dfca-4aa8-a654-1f8c654603f6}
   Writer Instance Id: {f729e510-6ee6-45d8-a033-45d5e29bf937}
   State: [7] Failed
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'COM+ REGDB Writer'
   Writer Id: {542da469-d3e1-473c-9f4f-7847f01fc64f}
   Writer Instance Id: {6ad4b9d0-5bed-4310-a68f-70ab9711ec89}
   State: [7] Failed
   Last error: No error

Writer name: 'WMI Writer'
   Writer Id: {a6ad56c2-b509-4e6c-bb19-49d8f43532f0}
   Writer Instance Id: {e2d38397-6f9f-409e-934c-2508df651bf9}
   State: [7] Failed
   Last error: No error

 

Let me disclose I do not know that much about VSS...  Is backup exec causing these writers to fail or is this an OS problem...  How would I test it?

maurijo
Level 6
Partner Accredited

So you have one provider which is fine.

It is normal that they return to stable if you restart the services but it is highly recommended to reboot to clear the errors and return to stable state.

Yes, backup exec "causes" these writers to fail because backup exec asks for a snapshot but the real reason this fails is OS related and not backup exec.

The server you are trying to snapshot, is their enough free space on the C drive ?

Also for VSS error you have to go from the eventviewer and check the first errors that appear during the backup, these are the ones that will lead you to the solution.

 

Also is the server you are trying to backup virtual ?

prs246191
Level 5
So I called Symantec and basically has been decided that my VSS writers need to be re-registered.. Since there isn't alot on it I am just going to rebuild the server. Thanks to those who replied.

maurijo
Level 6
Partner Accredited

Maybe to late but you don't have to rebuild the server te re register your vss writers. It can be done with a simple batch script and involves a reboot.

pkh
Moderator
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Since your server is Server 2008 R2, you should not re-register the VSS DLL's. You may not be able to boot up your server after this

Colin_Weaver
Moderator
Moderator
Employee Accredited Certified

Please be careful when doing any VSS registration steps with Windows 2008 or newer.

 

Microsoft have released information stating it can break your server to the point where you could have to re-install the operating system. Please see Microsoft KB http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940184

Important This article is not for use with Windows Vista, with Windows Server 2008, or with later Windows operating systems. Starting with Windows Vista and with Windows Server 2008, Windows component installation is manifest-based. Trying to manually register specific components, as described in the following steps, can have unexpected results that may require you to reinstall Windows to resolve.

 

-----------

For generic information on troubleshooting VSS issues with Backup Exec please review

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH173983

 

 

maurijo
Level 6
Partner Accredited

That is correct, but he was intending to rebuild it anyway so he can give it a shot I guess?

And to be honest, I done it over 50 times on server 2008 R2, never had any issues.